CBJ Assessment and Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When evaluating a customer's prong-set stone before repair, what is the FIRST thing a bench jeweler should check?
- Polish quality of the metal
- Condition and integrity of each prong tip (Correct answer)
- Metal alloy composition
- Stone carat weight
Correct answer: Condition and integrity of each prong tip
Prong tips must be evaluated first because damaged or thin prongs may break during the repair process, risking stone loss.
Question 2: A customer brings in a yellow gold ring with visible green discoloration in the shank. This most likely indicates:
- The ring is sterling silver
- Low karat gold with high copper content reacting to skin chemistry (Correct answer)
- The ring has been rhodium plated
- Nickel contamination from soldering
Correct answer: Low karat gold with high copper content reacting to skin chemistry
Green discoloration in low-karat gold typically results from copper in the alloy reacting with moisture and acids from the skin.
Question 3: Which tool is best used to assess the depth of a bezel setting before resizing the stone?
- Millimeter gauge (caliper) (Correct answer)
- Loupe only
- Ring mandrel
- Flex shaft handpiece
Correct answer: Millimeter gauge (caliper)
A caliper or millimeter gauge provides precise measurements of bezel depth and diameter necessary for proper stone fit evaluation.
Question 4: During intake assessment, you notice a customer's piece has a hairline fracture in the shank. What is the appropriate next step?
- Proceed with the repair without mentioning it
- Document and disclose the fracture to the customer before any work (Correct answer)
- Immediately solder the fracture without customer consent
- Return the piece without inspection
Correct answer: Document and disclose the fracture to the customer before any work
Pre-existing damage must always be documented and disclosed to the customer before work begins to protect both parties and set proper expectations.
Question 5: What is the purpose of using an acid test when evaluating an unmarked piece of jewelry?
- To clean the metal surface
- To determine the approximate karat or metal type (Correct answer)
- To check for gemstone authenticity
- To remove surface oxidation
Correct answer: To determine the approximate karat or metal type
Acid testing reacts with the metal to indicate its approximate karat or type based on how quickly the acid dissolves the test streak.
Question 6: A customer submits a tennis bracelet for clasp repair. During assessment, you notice two stones appear cloudy and one prong is bent. You should:
- Only fix the clasp as requested
- Fix clasp, straighten prong, and polish stones without informing customer
- Document all findings and discuss full scope of needed repairs with the customer (Correct answer)
- Refuse to accept the piece
Correct answer: Document all findings and discuss full scope of needed repairs with the customer
A thorough assessment requires documenting all damage and communicating findings to the customer so they can make informed repair decisions.
Question 7: When examining a cast piece for porosity before polishing, the jeweler should look for:
- Even color distribution
- Tiny pits or voids on the metal surface (Correct answer)
- Correct prong height
- Consistent stamp markings
Correct answer: Tiny pits or voids on the metal surface
Porosity appears as small pits or voids in cast metal and can cause structural weakness or poor polishing results if not addressed before finishing.
CBJ Assessment and Evaluation 2
When evaluating a customer's prong-set stone before repair, what is the FIRST thing a bench jeweler should check?